Massaging equipment



Nov. 25, 1952 D. M. ACKERMAN MASSAGING EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 6, 1949 R O m E V m flout-rm M Acxmmm Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

MASSAGING EQUIPMENT Dolletta M. Ackerman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 6, 1949, Serial No. 119,830

This invention relates to massaging equipment and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide equipment of this kind which may be conveniently used where a supply of water under pressure is available.

It is also an object of the invention to provide equipment of this kind including a hydroaspirator adapted for communication with a source of water under pressure and wherein means are provided for supporting the aspirator in a manner to materially reduce the liability of the aspirator becoming accidently disconnected with the source of water pressure.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide equipment of this kind including an aspirator having a suction line leading therefrom for communication with a desired applicator and wherein means are provided to allow cleaning out of the suction line when desired.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of the improved massaging equipment whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will hereinafter to be more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view partly in elevation and partly in sections illustrating a. massage equipment embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The applicator as herein embodied comprises a cup C of desired size having the marginal portion defining the large open end cased by a band I of porous rubber or other suitable yielding material for direct contact with the person. This band I not only prevents injury to the person, but assures the desired hermetic contact. The wall of the cup C is preferably transparent so that visual access may be had therein during a working operation to observe the massaging action on the flesh.

The inner end of the cup C at its axial center has in communication therewith and extending outwardly therefrom an integral nipple 20 with which is operatively engaged a flexible suction tube T of desired length.

The aspirator as herein comprised includes an elongated body member B of any desired material and configuration and which is provided at one 3 Claims. (Cl. 23092) end with a downwardly facing shoulder flange 2 of considerable area and which is provided by having the said end of the body member B laterally ofiset with respect to the upper portion.

The forward edge of the shoulder flange 2 is joined to a downwardly extending deflector shield 2a, which lies in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body member B.

The body member B has disposed lengthwise therethrough from above and at the axial center thereof a straight port or passageway 3 open at the top. Fitted within this port or passageway 3 is a tube 4 having at its lower or inserted extremity thereof a downwardly or inwardly facing nozzle 5. This nozzle 5 terminates below the inner end of the laterally and outwardly disposed port 6 leading from the inner portion of the port or passageway 3, and continued through a vent tube 1 with which is operatively engaged the suction tube 1 hereinbefore referred to.

The body member B is also provided with a discharge port or passageway 8 leading from the inner end of the port or passageway 3 and opening out through the shoulder flange 2 to the under side thereof.

The suction cup 9 provides an effective means for holding the body member B upon the marginal portion of a wash basin W or the like with the lower portion of the member B extending down within the basin so that the water discharged from the port or passageway 8 will be delivered into the basin without splashing.

The top portion of the member B is provided therearound with an outstanding flange ID to facilitate the coupling to said upper portion of the member B of an extremity of a flexible hose II. The opposite extremity of the hose l I, when the equipment is in use, is suitably coupled, as at l2, to a faucet or source of water supply under pressure.

It is of advantage to have the aspirator mounted in substantially a fixed position upon the basin W as by this arrangement there is substantially eliminated the liability of the water pressure within the hose H effecting a disconnection of the hose from the faucet or the like and also facilitates the handling of the applicator as the strain at all times will be upon the body member B and at no time upon the hose I 0.

Intersecting the port or passagewy 8 at a point below the port 5 is a straight recess [4 open at its ends and in which slides a valve block l5. This block i5 is constantly urged outwardly by an. expansible member l6, herein disclosed as a coil spring surrounding the block l5 and be- 3 tween the body B and a surrounding lip a at the outer end of the block IS. The block I5 is normally at the limit of its outward movement by the member or spring l6 and when in such position has an opening I! therethrough in register with the port or passageway 8, so that uninterrupted discharge may be had through such port or passageway. In the event however that the flow through the suction tube T may become clogged for any reason, it is only necessary to force the block I 5 inwardly to bring the opening I! out of registry with the port or passageway 8 whereby the water under pressure will be caused to flow outwardly through the tube T with resultant release of the obstruction there- As shown in the accompanyingdrawing, the inner portion of the side wall of the cup 0 is provided with a port l8. Associated with the port It! is a normally open flap valve I9 so that suction action through the tube T is prevented. However, when it is desired tohave massaging action, the valve I!) can be readily moved into close position bypressure thereon by. a digit of the hand holding or grasping the cup.

I-claim: 1. In massaging equipment including an aspirator, said aspirator comprising a long body having a passageway longitudinally therethrough and open at both ends, means for placing one end of the passageway in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, the oppositeend of the passageway constituting a fluid discharge means, means for connecting a suction line with the body and in communication with saidpassageway at a point intermediate the ends of the passageway, an injector nozzle within the passageway and arranged to discharge across the suction line connecting means toward the discharge end of the passageway, a normally open control valve carried by the body and controlling the flow of fluid through .the passageway, the control valve being located between the outlet of said nozzle and said discharge end of the passageway, the end of the body adjacent to the discharge end of the passageway being formed to provide a supporting shoulder, means carried by said supporting shoulder for securing the body upon a support in working position, a deflector shield carried by. the shoulder end of the body and extending longitudinally of the body in spaced relation with and laterally ofiset from the said securing means, and the said discharge end of the passageway being directed toward the face of the shield which is nearest to said securing means.

2. In massaging equipment including an aspirator, said aspirator comprising a long body, means at one end thereof for attaching a tube thereto, the opposite end of the body being formed to provide a mounting shoulder, a lateral extension at the shoulder end of the body, a deflector shield integral with said lateral extension and positioned in ofiset parallel relation to the body and extending beyond the said shoulder end, the body having a fluid passageway longitudinally 'therethrough which opens at one end through the said one end of the body and extends laterally into said laterally extending portion of the body and opens downwardly therethrough toward the deflector shield, a laterally extending vent tube in communicationwith the passageway, an injector nozzle in thepassag'eway directed across the adjacent end of the vent tube, and means carried by the mounting shoulder forming a support for and securing the body in working position.

3. Massaging equipment of the, character stated in claim 2, wherein saidsecuring means comprises a suction cup. e .DOLLET'I'A M. ACKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED 7 vi The following references are of record inthe file of this patent: g

UNITEDSTATE'S PATENTS i Date Number Name 905,818 Langfordm Dec, 1;1908 948,005 Campbell -1--. Feb. 1. .910

1,073,467 Birrell Sept. 16,1913

1,481,985 Chrisman Jan. 29, 1924 1,704,960 Ackerman Mar. 12, 1929 2,332,624 Boeckeler Oct. 26, 1943 2,592,896 Hayes Apr. 15 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 'Date 7 "4,159 Great Britain Nov. 7,1912 12,303 Great Britain 1910 121,673 Switzerland Sept. 1.1926 836,360 France Oct.'1 0,' 1933 

